Friday, January 05, 2007

The best Beaujolais come from one of the 10 "Cru" or regions in Beaujolais. For review--Beaujolais Nouveau is the early released wine (November) and meant to be consumed immediately. Then there is Beaujolais which means the wine was made from grapes from anywhere in the region of Beaujolais. Next in quality and price comes "Beaujolais Villages" which means the wine is made from grapes in more particular regions with a higher standard and then comes Beaujolias Cru which will bear the name of one of the specific "Cru" from which the grapes come. Beaujolais can run from about $5 to as high as $20 fro Beaujolais Cru.

This one was about $12 I believe. (NW) opened it with appetizers on a recent spur of the moment trip to Boston to resupply my pathetic cellar. It is purple with a cranberry colored core and super fresh Gamay grape aromas that exude strawberries and pepper.

The palate is structurally sound with a nice round texture. There is plenty of light fruit, with a pleasant tartness and even a pleasant sort of bitterness on the finish. Beaujolais wines are made from the Gamay grape which will never attain greatness; just plain juicy fresh quaffing. Raise a glass!